Giroud says amazing goal had 'maximum luck'

THE English Premier League has resumed in 2017 where it finished in 2016, with Olivier Giroud submitting his goal of the year offering on the very first day of the year.

Just days after Manchester United's Henrikh Mkhitaryan had football fans amazed with his 'scorpion' backheel goal, on the run, against Sunderland at Old Trafford, Arsenal's marksman has produced a finish of similarly extraordinary quality as Arsenal opened 2017 with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Giroud said he got "maximum luck” with his outrageous goal, which he labelled as the best goal of his life.

He opened the scoring at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday with an audacious mid-air back-flicked volley that looped into the top corner of Wayne Hennessey's net.

The 30-year-old appeared almost as stunned as the packed 60,000 crowd by his moment of magic and, speaking after the match, he conceded it was a goal that he could never have dreamt of producing.

"I have maximum luck. It's just about luck,” Giroud said.

"Not at all have I done anything like that before. I tried to deflect it.

"I was a bit lucky but it was the only thing I could do. The ball was behind me and I tried to hit it with a backheel.”

Giroud's incredible effort came just days after Mkhitaryan produced a similar goal against Sunderland.

The France forward added: "Maybe that goal inspired me. It's the only thing you can do in that position.

"It is nice for me and the team because we start the year with a win.”

Meanwhile, two goals each from Harry Kane and Dele Alli have lifted Spurs to a 4-0 win at Watford.

Tottenham is up to fourth on the EPL ladder on 39 points, a point behind Arsenal in third.